Friday, February 22, 2008

Week in View: Campaign hyperbole edition

By Catherine Cuellar , Mike Orren

It's martini time!

While you're reading this week, go ahead and mark your calendar for next Friday (leap year day), when we'll be kicking off the first in a hopefully long series of Pegasus News Monthly Music Showcases. First time out, we're at Dada with Airline, Farstar and another great local band or two still on the way. We'll be filming the gigs and airing them here and on the tube via our friends at Dallas iMedia Network. The hoi polloi will have to cough up five bucks to get in, but if you mark the show as a favorite, we'll email you a free ticket.

And yes, unlike last week's mayhem, this time it's for real. (Oh yeah, Catherine: While you were gone, we tried some new marketing ideas.)

Metro

With early voting underway in the Texas primary election, Obama and Clinton made local campaign stops. (Chelsea Clinton, that is.) And you'll never guess how bar patrons described their feelings about a new smoking ban to McKinneyNews.net. In other shocking news, Irving wants to ban hand-held cell phone use in school zones. Lantana Links has news of a biker bugging horses. Dallas Progress chronicles a confrontation between a drug house owner and Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert. Barking Dogs brings word of change in the Greenville Ave. St. Patrick's Day Parade. Meanwhile, Latina Lista looks at a video game about immigration.

The Biz

Guaranty Bank is well-liked. Wingstop continues to expand. Dave and Buster's could be on the block. And the Dallas Convention Center Hotel is quickly becoming another heated City Hall issue, with Harlan Crow and Dallas South weighing in.

Sporting Chances

Todd goes on the offensive in this week's Cupcheck. The Mavs' Jason Kidd era didn't start on a high note. The Rangers have tied up their middle infield until 2013. Finally, our football experts wax philosophic about the 2007 NFL season.

Dining

Best Bites brings news of yet another pizza place doing it New York-style, along with an update on what's happened to Oak Lawn vegetarian haunt Cosmic Café. And, there are four local chefs on James Beard's shortlist.

Stage and Scene

Listen in on Shawn's chat with Anna in the Tropics director Shawn Gann. The Column's John Garcia spent time with men in drag ONSTAGE in Bedford. Mark-Brian Sonna reviewed Lyric Stage's They're Playing Our Song and Dallas Summer Musicals' Love, Janis. Also, long-absent critic Jenni Stewart returns with a review of Kitchen Dog's Trestle at Pope Lick Creek. There are plenty of plays and art shows opening this weekend, and a few closing as well. Meantime, on the music scene we've got a big Tejano music convention on the way, along with The Police on their second final reunion visit. And Erykah Badu is putting on a groovy benefit at Ghostbar next week.

Flix

Alex reviewed Diary of the Dead, George Romero's new (and crappy, and derivative) zombie picture. John interviewed the auteur via phone, and spoke to actress Arianne Martin at Pegasus News World Headquarters. Both are in town for Texas Frightmare Weekend. Otherwise, if your Oscar-watching party ballot includes short films (animated and live action), consult our Film Guy's reviews before placing your bets. And this morning, the Film Guy lets you know whether to shell out to see new release Charlie Bartlett.

Have you ever seen Dallas Fort Worth from a DC-9 at night?

Pegasus Picks for the weekend

Tonight:

• UNT's famed One O'Clock Lab Band at Bass Hall.
• Is Mom the local music scene's greatest hope or an overblown bunch of hype? Decide for yourself at Lola's.
• If your baby's got sauce, live it up with G. Love at House of Blues.

Saturday:

• Family-friendly Elmo has three shows at Nokia
• Talented teens: Dallas City Hall wants you.
• Be part of the audience as the Uncle Barky Show meets up with the Fox4 morning team.
• Criminally underrated country songwriter Robbie Fulks at the Granada.
• Watch scary movies by day and party goth-style with talented cast and crew members by night.
• Do the Loco-Motion with Grand Funk Railroad at Billy Bob's.

Easy like Sunday all day long:

• Celebrate Black History Month at the Eisemann Center.
• Jamaican food and reggae music all-day, for all-ages, in Fort Worth

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